External condenser and light assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an external condenser and light assembly and, more particularly, to an improved external air conditioning condenser and housing that is designed to additionally serve as a light assembly for an emergency vehicle. The condenser housing is mounted to the exterior of the emergency vehicle, which improves the performance of the emergency vehicle's air-conditioning system. The design of the condenser housing also allows it to serve as a light assembly on which emergency vehicle lights are mounted. The condenser housing and light assembly structure thereby provides for proper air conditioning functionality without occupying space on the exterior of the vehicle that would more preferably be occupied by emergency lighting.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An emergency vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body comprising a patient compartment and a driver compartment, wherein said driver compartment comprises a roof; and 
 an air-conditioning system comprising a condenser housing coupled to an exterior of a front wall of said patient compartment and spaced above said roof of said driver compartment, wherein said condenser housing includes—
 a top portion defining at least one top opening and a bottom portion defining at least one bottom opening, wherein each of said top opening and said bottom opening is configured to permit air to flow from said top opening to said bottom opening or from said bottom opening to said top opening, wherein said bottom portion comprises one or more gratings defining at least a portion of said bottom opening, 
 a front side configured to be positioned forward of said front wall of said patient compartment and configured to face a direction of travel of said emergency vehicle, wherein said front side is generally solid so as to allow at least one warning light to be affixed thereto, 
 at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said front side, 
 a back portion extending across at least a portion of said front wall of said patient compartment of said emergency vehicle and secured to said front wall of said emergency vehicle, 
 a left side connected with said front side at a first intersection, with said left side extending rearward from said front side to said back portion, 
 a right side connected with said front side at a second intersection, with said right side extending rearward from said front side to said back portion, 
 
 wherein said air-conditioning system further comprises a condenser mounting assembly positioned at least partly within said condenser housing, wherein said condenser mounting assembly is configured to support at least one fan and at least one condenser coil, 
 wherein said condenser mounting assembly comprises a frame with a planar surface that includes at least one hole, and wherein said at least one fan is received in said at least one hole so as to be supported in a position suitable to cause air to flow across said at least one condenser coil and from said top opening to said bottom opening or from said bottom opening to said top opening, 
 wherein said patient compartment presents a through-hole allowing at least one of a condenser coil tubing, fan wiring, and warning light wiring to pass from within said patient compartment to within said condenser housing, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a first brace element extending rearward from the first intersection to said back portion of said condenser housing, such that said first brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said left side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a second brace element extending rearward from the second intersection to said back portion of said condenser housing, such that said second brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said right side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein one of said first brace element or said second brace element includes a hole formed therethrough, and wherein at least one of the condenser coil tubing and the fan wiring extend towards the condenser mounting assembly by passing through the hole of said first brace element or said second brace element. 
 
     
     
       2. The emergency vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said back portion extends from said left side to said right side. 
     
     
       3. The emergency vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said left side and said right side includes at least one warning light affixed thereto. 
     
     
       4. The emergency vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fan is supported in an upward orientation by said condenser mounting assembly. 
     
     
       5. The emergency vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said left side and said right side each extend rearward from said front side at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
       6. The emergency vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fan is positioned within said condenser housing such that said at least one fan does not extend above said condenser housing. 
     
     
       7. An external automotive condenser and light assembly for mounting on a patient compartment of an emergency vehicle, said condenser and light assembly comprising:
 a condenser housing configured to be mounted to a front wall of the patient compartment of the emergency vehicle, with said condenser housing including
 a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein said top opening and said bottom opening are configured to permit air to flow from the top opening to the bottom opening or from the bottom opening to the top opening, wherein said bottom opening is at least partially presented by a bottom portion comprising a grating, 
 a front side configured to be positioned forward of the front wall of the patient compartment and configured to face a direction of travel of the emergency vehicle, wherein said front side is generally solid so as to allow at least one warning light to be affixed thereto, 
 at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said front side, 
 a back portion configured to extend across at least a portion of the front wall of the emergency vehicle and configured to be secured to the front wall of the emergency vehicle, 
 a left side extending rearward from said front side to said back portion, 
 a right side extending rearward from said front side to said back portion; and 
 
 a condenser mounting assembly positioned at least partly within said condenser housing, wherein said condenser mounting assembly is configured to support at least one fan and at least one condenser coil, 
 wherein said condenser mounting assembly comprises a rectangular frame with a front section, a back section, a pair of end sections, and a planar surface extending between top portions of said front section, said back section, and said end sections, wherein said planar surface includes at least one hole for supporting said at least one fan in a position suitable to cause air to flow across said at least one condenser coil and to flow from said top opening to said bottom opening, 
 wherein said at least one condenser coil is mounted to an underside of said condenser mounting assembly and is positioned underneath said at least one fan, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a first brace element extending rearward from said front side to said back portion of said condenser housing, such that said first brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said left side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a second brace element extending rearward from said front side to said back portion of said condenser housing, such that said second brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said right side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein at least one of said first brace element or said second brace element includes a hole configured to receive condenser coil tubing therethrough. 
 
     
     
       8. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said back portion extends from said left side to said right side. 
     
     
       9. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said left side and said right side includes at least one warning light affixed thereto. 
     
     
       10. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one fan is supported in an upward orientation by said condenser mounting assembly. 
     
     
       11. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said top opening and said bottom opening are configured to permit air to flow substantially vertically through said external automotive condenser and light assembly. 
     
     
       12. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said top opening is at least partially presented by a top portion comprising a grating. 
     
     
       13. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said left side and said right side each extends rearward from said front side at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
       14. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one fan is positioned within said condenser housing such that said at least one fan does not extend above said condenser housing. 
     
     
       15. An emergency vehicle comprising the external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 7 , said emergency vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body comprising the patient compartment and a driver compartment, wherein said driver compartment comprises a roof, wherein said external automotive condenser and light assembly is disposed above and spaced apart from a top of said driver compartment roof. 
 
     
     
       16. The emergency vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said external automotive condenser and light assembly further comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of fan wiring and warning light wiring, wherein said patient compartment defines a through-hole allowing at least one of said condenser coil tubing, fan wiring, and warning light wiring to pass from within said condenser housing into said emergency vehicle. 
     
     
       17. An external automotive condenser and light assembly for mounting on a patient compartment of an emergency vehicle, the condenser and light assembly comprising:
 a condenser housing configured to be mounted to a front wall of the patient compartment of the emergency vehicle, with said condenser housing including
 a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein at least one of said top portion and said bottom portion defines an exhaust opening for permitting air to flow out of said condenser housing, 
 a front side positioned forward of the front wall of the patient compartment and configured to face a direction of travel of the emergency vehicle, wherein said front side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said front side, wherein said front side includes at least one through-hole extending through said front side, 
 a left side connected with said front side at a first intersection, with said left side extending rearward from said front side towards the front wall of the patient compartment, wherein said left side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said left side, 
 a right side connected with said front side at a second intersection, with said right side extending rearward from said front side towards the front wall of the patient compartment, wherein said right side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said right side, 
 wherein said left side and said right side each extends from said front side at an obtuse angle, with such obtuse angle being between 95° and 165°; 
 
 at least one fan positioned within said condenser housing and oriented either upwardly or downwardly for creating either an upward or a downward airflow, respectively; and 
 a condenser mounting assembly positioned within said condenser housing, wherein said condenser mounting assembly is operable to support said at least one fan in either the upward orientation or the downward orientation, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a first brace element extending rearward from the first intersection to a back portion of said condenser housing, such that said first brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said left side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein said condenser housing includes a second brace element extending rearward from the second intersection to said back portion of said condenser housing, such that said second brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said right side of said condenser housing, 
 wherein one of said first brace element or said second brace element includes a hole formed therethrough, and wherein at least one of condenser coil tubing and fan wiring extend towards the condenser mounting assembly by passing through the hole of said first brace element or said second brace element. 
 
     
     
       18. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said front side is generally solid so as to allow said at least one warning light to be affixed thereto. 
     
     
       19. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said left side and said right side each extends from said front side to a position adjacent to said front wall of the patient compartment. 
     
     
       20. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said left side and said right side includes at least one through-hole extending therethrough. 
     
     
       21. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said top portion defines a top opening that comprises the exhaust opening, and wherein said bottom portion defines a bottom opening. 
     
     
       22. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said top opening and said bottom opening are configured to permit air to flow upwardly from said bottom opening to said top opening. 
     
     
       23. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said bottom portion includes a grating defining said bottom opening. 
     
     
       24. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one fan is oriented upwardly for creating the upward airflow from said bottom opening to said top opening. 
     
     
       25. The external automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said through-hole of said front side is configured to permit warning light wiring to pass through said front side to said at least one warning light affixed to said front side. 
     
     
       26. An external automotive condenser and light assembly for mounting to a front wall of a patient compartment of an emergency vehicle, the condenser and light assembly comprising:
 a front side positioned forward of the front wall of the patient compartment and configured to face a direction of travel of the emergency vehicle, wherein said front side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said front side, wherein said front side includes at least one through-hole extending through said front side; 
 a left side extending rearward from said front side towards the front wall of the patient compartment, wherein said left side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said left side, wherein said left side includes at least one through-hole extending through said left side; 
 a right side extending rearward from said front side towards the front wall of the patient compartment, wherein said right side includes at least one warning light affixed to an exterior surface of said right side, wherein said right side includes at least one through-hole extending through said right side, 
 wherein said left side and said right side each extend at an angle from said front side, with such angle being an obtuse angle; 
 a back portion extending between said left side and said right side; 
 a top opening configured to permit air to exhaust out of said condenser and light assembly, 
 at least two fans positioned rearward of said front side and between said left side and said right side, wherein said at least two fans are orientated upwardly to cause an airflow upward through at least a portion of said condenser and light assembly and out of said top opening; 
 a condenser mounting assembly positioned rearward of said front side and between said left side and said right side, wherein said condenser mounting assembly is configured to support said at least two fans in the upward orientation; 
 a first brace element extending rearward from said front side to said back portion, such that said first brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said left side; 
 a second brace element extending rearward from said front side to said back portion, such that said second brace element extends between said condenser mounting assembly and said right side; 
 wherein at least one of said first brace element or said second brace element includes a hole configured to receive condenser coil tubing therethrough. 
 
     
     
       27. The automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said front side is generally solid so as to allow said at least one warning light to be affixed thereto. 
     
     
       28. The automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising a bottom opening, and wherein said top opening and said bottom opening are configured to permit air to flow upwardly from said bottom opening to said top opening. 
     
     
       29. The automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said bottom opening is at least partially presented as a grating. 
     
     
       30. The automotive condenser and light assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said through-hole of said front side is configured to permit wiring to pass through said front side to said at least one warning light affixed to said front side.